Nelson College

Nelson College
Address
Waimea Road, Nelson
Coordinates 41°17′8″S 173°16′36″E / 41.28556°S 173.27667°E / -41.28556; 173.27667Coordinates: 41°17′8″S 173°16′36″E / 41.28556°S 173.27667°E / -41.28556; 173.27667
Information
Type State single sex boys secondary (year 9–13) with boarding facilities
Motto Pietas Probitas et Sapientia
(Loyalty, honesty and wisdom)
Established 1856
Ministry of Education Institution no. 294
Headmaster Gary O'Shea
School roll 1172[1] (July 2016)
Socio-economic decile 7
Website www.nelsoncollege.school.nz

Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys. The school also has places for boarders, who live in three boarding houses adjacent to the school.

History

The school opened with eight students on 7 April 1856 in premises in Trafalgar Square, Nelson, but shortly thereafter moved to a site in Manuka Street. In 1861, the school moved again to its current site in Waimea Road. The Deed of Foundation was signed in 1857 and set out the curriculum to be followed by the College. It included English language and literature, one or more modern languages, geography, mathematics, classics, history, drawing, music and such other branches of science as the Council of Governors should determine.[2] The Deed stated that the purpose of the school was the "advancement of religion and morality, and the promotion of useful knowledge, by offering to the youth of the Province general education of a superior character."

In 1858, the General Assembly passed the Nelson College Act, which confirmed the status of the school. In that same year, Alfred Fell gifted the common seal, containing the college's badge and motto, "Pietas, Probitas et Sapientia" (Loyalty, honesty and wisdom).[2] A team from Nelson College took part in the first game of rugby played in New Zealand, against the Nelson Rugby Football Club on 14 May 1870 at what is now known as the Botanic Reserve, Nelson, and, in 1876, the first inter-College rugby match in New Zealand was played between Nelson College and Wellington College.[2]

On 7 December 1904, the College was almost completely destroyed by fire. The main building, designed by William Beatson, was said to be a "miniature of Eton," the architect being an old Etonian.[3] In 1926, Nelson College was invited to join the annual rugby tournament between Christ's College, Wanganui Collegiate School and Wellington College, known as the "Quadrangular".[2] In the 1929 Murchison earthquake, the main building of the College was once again severely damaged, although only two boys were injured.[2]

In 2011, Nelson College became the first all-boys college in New Zealand to form a gay-straight alliance support group.[4] The alliance operated from its own room. In 2015, an attempt was made to re-form the group.[5]

Houses

The College has a house system. In 2004, two new houses were formed, to add to the existing three boarding and three day houses. However, following a boarding restructure in 2014, Rutherford House ceased to exist as an entity in the Nelson College inter-house competition. The 'Rutherford House' physical building is to be refurbished and repurposed into the Nelson College Preparatory School in 2016 while Rutherford boarders are merged into Barnicoat.[6] The current houses are:

Boarders

Day boys

There is competition between the houses across a range of sporting codes and cultural activities including cross country running, swimming, and singing.

Notable staff

Headmasters

Since its foundation in 1856, Nelson College has had 20 headmasters. The following is a complete list:[7][8]

Name Term
1 John Charles Bagshaw 1856–1858
2 George Heppel 1859–1861
3 Reginald Broughton 1862
4 John Danforth Greenwood 1863–1865
5 Charles Lendrick MacLean 1866–1868
6 Frank Churchill Simmons 1868–1876
7 John Chapman Andrew 1876–1886
8 William Justice Ford 1886–1888
9 John William Joynt 1889–1898
10 William Still Littlejohn 1899–1903
11 Harry Lewis Fowler 1904–1921
12 Charles Harrington Broad 1922–1933
13 Herbert Victor Searle 1933–1956
14 Basil Henry Wakelin 1957–1969
15 E.J. "Doug" Brewster 1970–1981
16 Barry Beckingsale 1981–1985
17 Tony Cooper 1985–1988
18 Gary Bowler 1988–1995
19 Salvi Gargiulo 1995–2006
20 Gary O'Shea 2006–present

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Directory of Schools - as at 2 August 2016". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 L.R. Palmer, "A Short History of Nelson College". In: "Nelson College Old Boys' Register 1856–1981" (5th edn.)
  3. ↑ "The Evening Post", 8 December 1904
  4. ↑ Roberts, Adam (6 April 2011). "Boys' college backs gay, straight students". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Nelson College Daily Notices 17 August 2015.
  6. ↑ DUNN, Sarah; MANN, Brittany. "Boarding changes to go ahead". Nelson Mail. Fairfax Madia. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition (CD-ROM).
  8. ↑ "O'Shea for head". The Press. 5 July 2006. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Dr. Wallaston". The Week. Brisbane, Queensland. 18 February 1912. p. 13.
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